Get Back To Your Life®

Spine Surgeon Dr. Thomas Schuler founded the Virginia Spine Institute in Reston, VA in 1992 and since then he has expanded it into a premier destination for people searching for solutions for back and neck pain. Patients literally fly in from around the world to see Dr. Schuler and his team at VSI. In the last 3 decades, they've treated 100,000 patients from 32 countries and Dr. Schuler has personally seen so much innovation in the field during that time. He's also driven a lot of innovation as a true pioneer in his field. For this episode - he sits down to talk about the many advancements in disc replacement and what this innovation means for patients looking to Get Back to their Life after dealing with debilitating pain. To learn more about VSI visit SpineMD.com

So what does recovery look like after back surgery?

There are A LOT of myths to bust on this topic and that's what we're doing in this episode.

In our last episode, we spoke about a variety of aspects of recovery with spine surgeon Dr. Ehsan Jazini of VSI.

In this episode - we're checking in with two patients - sisters - to find out what recovery from back surgery looked like for them and most importantly - what they're back to doing now.

So what does recovery look like after back surgery? There are A LOT of myths to bust on this topic and that's what we're doing in this episode. We're starting with a doctor's perspective. We sit down to talk with spine surgeon Dr. Ehsan Jazini of Virginia Spine Institute about a variety of aspects of recovery - how patients feel about it, how he helps them prepare for surgery and recovery, and what surprises patients most when the surgery is complete. To learn more about the Virginia Spine Institute, visit SpineMD.com

Stiff, achy, and pain in the knees can be debilitating. And it's so common that nearly one million knee replacement surgeries are performed each year in the US. But when surgery isn't an option - or desired by a patient - regenerative medicine may help. We're talking about procedures that allow the body to heal ITSELF! Stem cell therapy is one of the more popular forms of regenerative medicine and Dr. Niteesh Bharara, Director of Regenerative Medicine at Virginia Spine Institute is an expert. In this episode, he explains why stem cell therapy is a good alternative to knee surgery for many. Learn more about Regenerative Medicine at VSI at SpineMD.com

In our last episode, we focused on women and back health. Today - it's time to put men in the spotlight. We want to talk about the importance of men prioritizing their spine health, early detection, and treatment rather than trying to push past pain or let problems linger. Studies show many men aren't great about that with one study finding nearly 2/3 of men (65%) avoid going to the doctor as long as possible. As you can imagine - doctors have strong feelings about this. Spine Surgeon Dr. Ehsan Jazini is one of them. We talk with him in this episode about why, how, and when men should reach out if they have neck and back pain. Victor de Leon, a veteran, and artist also shares his story of putting off dealing with his own debilitating neck pain for far too long and why he hopes other men don't make that same mistake. The graphic designer/artist did two tours in the Middle East that left him with neck pain so debilitating, he couldn't work or paint. When he finally reached out for help, he learned he was close to becoming paralyzed. He's since had neck surgery and is back to painting. He also now advocates for veterans to take neck and back pain seriously and seek help – rather than pushing through it and living with the pain. Learn more at SpineMD.com Follow Patient - Victor de Leon on Instagram @VDart

The inspiration for today's episode is one of Virginia Spine Institute's amazing patients. Morgan Tebeau, is a Virginia mom who lived with terrible pain in her arm and shoulder for months before seeking help. At the end of January 2021, she had artificial disc replacement surgery and was finally able to get back to living the pain-free life that she loves. Morgan is also a mom and fitness coach who is deeply passionate about empowering women to be champions of their health. It's a critically important message because research shows women often postpone medical care and say they're increasing 'just living with pain.' In this episode - Morgan shares her story and Spine Surgeon Dr. Colin Haines talks about why it's important for women to pay attention to their pain.

• Learn more about VSI at SpineMD.com.
• Read a blog on Morgan's story on Medium @VirginiaSpineInstitute
• Follow Morgan Tebeau on Instagram @morgantebeau

They say doctors don't make good patients – but that's not always the case… and sometimes when the doctor becomes the patient - it makes them a better doctor!

That's definitely the case for Dr. Thomas Schuler - Spine Surgeon and Founder of Virginia Spine Institute. Dr. Schuler's empathy for his patients is made stronger because of his own experience as a patient himself.

Renowned internationally as a leader in treating neck and lower back conditions - he has had spine surgery twice and has also undergone regenerative medicine.

In this episode, he shares his experience as both a doctor - and a patient.

Robotics is revolutionizing the field of spinal surgery and this innovation is making enormous differences for surgeons and most importantly - their patients.

In this episode, we talk with Spine Surgeon Dr. Christopher Good, a world expert in this field. He explains the wide-reaching impact of this innovation, how it's transforming the lives of patients suffering from complex neck or back conditions, and how and when to seek out surgeons familiar with this technology.

June is not only Men's Health Month - but also the month when we honor dads and all they do so in this episode - we're talking about the everyday parenting duties that can cause back and neck pain and what dads can do to proactively prevent it.

Our guest is Dr. Colin Haines, spine surgeon, and father of three - including seven-month-old baby Emerson - so he has the personal and professional experience to share on this topic.

Following a back injury, lots of athletes are choosing motion-preserving disc replacement surgery over a traditional spinal fusion - so much so that this story has been in the news several times recently with professional athletes.

It's a topic that comes up often for athletes at all levels who want to preserve motion after spine surgery so they can get back to playing the sports they love. In this episode, we talk with spine surgeon Dr. Ehsan Jazini about why disc replacements are becoming more requested and popular with athletes and weekend warriors.